Kathmandu. The NADA delegation led by Karan Chaudhary held a meeting with Honorable Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kul Man Ghising and discussed about the overall problems of automobile sector of Nepal. During the discussions, Chairman Chaudhary said that the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Department of Transport Management are the main stakeholders of NADA and the policies and regulations that will be brought by NADA will have a direct impact on the automobile sector.
He suggested increasing the bank financing limit for petrol and diesel vehicles to 80 per cent from the current 60 per cent, which would help in making the automobile business dynamic. Stating that there has been a decline in the sale of all types of vehicles in Nepal, Chairman Chaudhary pointed out the need of a practical policy to ease the automobile business.
Stating that there is a lack of charging infrastructure with the increasing import of electric vehicles, he pointed out that while India has one charging station for 105 electric vehicles, Nepal has only one charging station for 24 electric vehicles. He was of the view that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) should take more concrete steps in this regard.
He also pointed out the need of simplifying the vehicle license distribution system, improving the implementation of embossed number plates as it is procedurally complicated, rationalizing the Vehicle Import, Production and Installation Directive-2082 and holding in-depth discussions with the stakeholders before finalizing it.
Chairman Chaudhary pointed out the need of reconsidering the high tariff by listing vehicles in the list of luxury goods as it was not in line with the international situation. He also demanded that the records and processes of the Department of Transport Management and Transport Management Office should be fully digitized and the support provided by the government for the installation of transformers for the establishment of DC charging stations should be continued.
On the occasion, General Secretary Surendra Kumar Upreti said that the automobile business has been badly affected as the border with China has not yet been fully opened. He demanded that the Indian trucks should be allowed to enter the country for 72 hours without any hindrance to Nepali business.
He also expressed the view that the government should carry out serious study before signing the agreement as it would cause big disruption to the business of commercial vehicles in Nepal if the provisions in the agreement with neighbouring countries were implemented as it is.
On the occasion, Chairman Chaudhary presented a 28-point suggestion to the minister for the long-term improvement of the automobile sector. At the end of the meeting, Minister Ghising said that Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been constructing charging stations with investment of billions of rupees to promote electric vehicles in Nepal. He also assured that a recycling plant would be set up in Nepal to reuse batteries made from rare earth minerals.
The meeting was attended by General Secretary Surendra Kumar Upreti, Treasurer Milan Babu Malla, Central Working Committee members Prakash Kapoor, Kapil Shiwakoti, Sohan Shrestha and Director General of Department of Transport Management Rajiv Pokharel.
